BOF: 3.32
A 63-year-old male presents
with a 6-day history of diarrhoea and lower abdominal pain. He is known to
have COPD and has had several courses of antibiotics recently for what his GP
thought were infective exacerbations.
On examination the patient
looks unwell, he is febrile (temp 39°
C) dehydrated, tachycardic and his blood pressure is low. His abdomen is
distended and tender, no lumps palpable, bowel sounds are heard and not
exaggerated.
Which of the following
investigations would be most appropriate in this patient?
a)
Plain x-ray abdomen
b)
Stool microscopy and culture
c)
CT scan of the abdomen
d)
Colonoscopy
e)
Unprepared flexible sigmoidoscopy
